As of **January 1, 2026, several new laws and policy changes officially took effect across North Carolina, reshaping areas from healthcare and business to identity definitions and investment oversight. These legislative changes reflect work from the 2025 session and carry practical impacts for residents statewide. WCNC
Among the most notable changes, the state defines “male” and “female” as the only legal sexes for all administrative rules and public policy unless a specific law provides otherwise, and restricts some state funding related to gender-transition procedures — a shift that was enacted despite the governor’s veto earlier in the process. WCNC
Other key laws now in effect include reforms to the prescription drug supply chain — requiring drug manufacturers to report significant price increases to help contain costs — and the establishment of an online portal where consumers can track prescription prices. WCNC
North Carolina also updated adoption documentation rules, allowing adoptive birth certificates to be accessed and issued through the state’s electronic system similar to non-adopted birth records; overhauled CPA certification requirements to create a streamlined path to becoming a licensed accountant; and created a new state investment authority intended to modernize how public pension investments are managed. WCNC
These legal changes span a wide variety of policy areas and will impact both everyday administrative processes and broader regulatory frameworks in the state throughout 2026 and beyond.
(Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
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